Mountings for interchangeable casting rolls of a glass sheet forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

A mounting for two interchangeable lower casting rolls for use in a casting unit for producing rolled glass, includes a casting roll carriage on which may be mounted two lower rolls in axial alignment, the carriage being movable across the path of the glass to be rolled to move one lower casting roll out of and to move the other lower casting roll into the casting position.

United States Patent lnventors Hubert Cecil Wynne;

David Jones, both of St. Helens, England Appl. No. 788,724 Filed Jan. 3, 1969 Patented June 15, 1971 Assignee Pilkington Brothers Limited Liverpool, Lancashire, England Priority Jan. 5,1968

Great Britain 879/68 MOUNTINGS FOR INTERCHANGEABLE CASTING ROLLS OF A GLASS SHEET FORMING APPARATUS 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US Cl 65/172, 65/173, 65/185, 65/253 Int. Cl C03b 13/16 [50] Field of Search ,7 65/173, 172, I85, 253, 255

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,569,086 l/l926 Hitchcock 65/173 3,309,l89 3/1967 Javaux 65/172 Primary Examiner-Arthur D. Kellogg Attorney-Morrison, Kennedy & Campbell ABSTRACT: A mounting for two interchangeable lower casting rolls for use in a casting unit for producing rolled glass, includes a casting roll carriage on which may be mounted two lower rolls in axial alignment, the carriage being movable across the path of the glass to be rolled to move one lower casting roll out of and to move the other lower casting roll into the casting position.

, 1 H. U. i

PATENTED JUN] 5 I971 SHEET 1 OF 3 lnvenlorg y mwmdk ufiyi A Home y f MOUNTINGS FOR INTERCIIANGEABLE CASTING ROLLS OF A GLASS SHEET FORMING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to mountings for casting rolls used in the manufacture of rolled glass from molten glass flowing from a tank over a spout between upper and lower casting rolls which may impart a pattern to the surface or surfaces of the glass.

In such apparatus for casting rolled glass, the rolls are mounted one above the other in parallel relationship on a main carriage which can be raised or lowered and is translatable across the forward end of the tank so that glass flowing in ribbon form over the spout will pass through the pass between the casting rolls and thereby be rolled into glass sheets with or without a patterned surface depending on the surface configuration of the casting rolls. The carriage drivingly supports the lower casting roll, supports the upper casting roll, and forwardly of the casting rolls supports a number of parallel tray rolls in descending order over which the glass ribbon emanating from the pass between the casting rolls moves as it solidifies.

From time to time it is necessary to change the casting rolls, particularly the lower casting roll, either to replace a worn roller or to change the pattern imparted to the lower surface of the ribbon of glass. For this purpose the carriage is moved transversely of the tank out of the path of the glass and this results in a substantial shutdown time of the tank thereby reducing the output of rolled glass.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a lower casting roll mounting in which the aforesaid shortcoming is much reduced and to provide a casting roll unit incorporating the mounting.

SUMMARY According to one aspect of the invention a casting roll unit is provided for use in producing rolled glass from a flow of glass over the spout of a tank of molten glass, said unit comprising a main carriage mounted for translation across the front end of the tank and having mounted on the forward portion thereofa series of tray rollers in descending order, on the central portion thereof a mounting comprising a casting roll carriage supporting two lower casting rolls in axial alignment, and on the rearward portion thereof a supporting structure rotatably supporting an upper casting roll, the casting rolls being so disposed that with the upper casting roll and one of the lower casting rolls in register with the tank spout they form between them a pass for rolling glass flowing over the spout and direct a rolled ribbon onto the series of tray rollers, the casting roll carriage being movable across the main carriage to move one lower casting roll out of and to move the other lower casting roll into the casting position.

According to another aspect ofthe invention a mounting for two interchangeable lower casting rolls mounted in axial alignment is provided for use in a casting unit for producing rolled glass from a flow of glass over the spout of a tank of molten glass, said mounting comprising a casting roll carriage mountable for translation across and below the tank spout and, for each casting roll, a separate driven support comprising axially spaced brackets mounted on the roll carriage, a driven shaft journaled in the brackets, spaced arms pivotally mounted coaxially of the driven shaft in which arms a forward driving shaft is journaled, further spaced arms pivotally mounted coaxially of the driving shaft in which further arms a rearward driving shaft is journaled, means on the roll carriage for supporting the said spaced arms and the said further spaced arms which support means include adjustable means operable to adjust the relative dispositions of the driving shafts by pivotting the arms associated with one of the driving shafts with respect to the arms associated with the other driving shaft, a driving connection between the driven shaft and each of the driving shafts, and axially spaced friction rollers fast with each driving shaft supporting a lower casting roller and imparting a drive thereto, whereby the driving shafts may be adjusted relatively to each other so that lower casting rolls of different diameter may be drivingly supported and the carriage may be traversed across the tank to move one casting roll into and to withdraw the other casting roll from the castmg position.

Preferably the said spaced arms for the forward driving shaft and the said further spaced arms for the rearward driving shaft are supported by independently adjustable means operable to pivot the respective arms about the driven shaft.

It is also preferred that each said arm is supported by a manually operable screw jack, the jacks supporting the arms associated with the same driving shaft being coupled together so that these arms are pivoted in unison.

In one preferred construction the driving shafts of each lower casting roll are rotatably supported adjacent the end portions of the roll and the said friction drive rollers are provided at each end portion of the roll.

Each of the lower casting rolls is preferably provided with internal coolant fluid ducts connected to inlet and outlet pipes for the fluid, which pipes are provided at the end of the roll remote from the other lower roll and are supported on the casting roll carriage.

The driven shaft may be coupled through a drive mechanism to a prime mover. eg an electric motor, mounted on the casting roll carriage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation, by way of example, of a casting roll unit for use in producing rolled glass from a flow of glass ribbon over the spout of a glass tank;

FIG. 2 is a cross section on the line II-II of FIG. 1 and showing the mounting of the unit; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the carriage of the casting roller unit of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings the same references are used to designate the same parts.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 2 shows in outline the spout l of a tank of molten glass, a radiation gate 3 to protect the upper casting roll 5 against radiation from the furnace, a sill 3a over which the molten glass (not shown) flows to the pass 4 between an upper casting roll 5 and a lower casting roll 6 which roll a ribbon of glass on to a series of tray rollers 7 shown in descending order whence the ribbon indicated at 8 passes to the conventional conveyor which forms no part of this invention.

The casting rolls 5 and 6 are supported on a mounting unit, which will now be described. This mounting unit comprises a main carriage 9 supported on wheels I0 running on rails 11 on a carriage 111 extending transversely of the path of the glass ribbon. The carriage 111 is in turn supported on wheels 112 running on rails 113 for movement towards and away from the tank spout 1. The rails 113 are supported on adjustable jacking devices 114 fixed on a firm bed 115. The carriage 9 is at least three times the width of the spout 1 and in fact has extensions at either end beyond that width for the purpose to be described. The carriage 9 supports brackets 11 on which is mounted a frame 12 carrying the tray rolls 7, and further brackets 13 are provided on the carriage 9 to support an adjustable device 14 for supporting the top end of the frame I2 so as to adjust the height of the rear end of the frame 12 in a conventional manner.

At the rear of the carriage 9 are upwardly extending brackets IS on the upper ends of which are frames 16 carrying supporting slides 17 in which the end shafts or stub axles 18 of the upper casting roll 5 are journaled. Each slide 17 is adjustable by means of the bolts I9 and 20 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of those members.

At the center of the carriage 9 are mounted rails 21, 22 on which a wheeled casting roll carriage 23 is movably mounted for translation across the tank and the width of the carriage 23 is basically twice the width of the spout 1 with wings at either end for the purpose to be described.

The carriage 23 supports two lower casting rolls 6 side by side in axial alignment each being slightly wider than the width of the spout and the width of the upper casting roll 5. For simplicity the mounting of one such lower casting roll will be described.

For each lower casting roll 6 (see especially the left-hand roll 6 shown in FIGURE 1), the carriage 23 has a pair of upstanding brackets 24 spaced apart approximately the length of the roll 6 and journaled between the brackets 24 is a driven shaft 25. One end of this shaft 25 extends beyond its associated bracket 24, ie away from the casting roll 6, and is connected through a coupling 26 and a gearing 27 to a pulley 28 driven by a belt 29 from an electric motor 30, the whole of the assembly 26 to 30 being supported on the respective wing of the carriage 23.

Coaxial with the shaft 25 at each end of the casting roll 6 rear arms 35 are pivotally mounted, the outer ends of the arms having journaled therein a rearward driving shaft 36 carrying friction rollers 37 for driving the roll 6 and having fast thereon gears 38 meshing with gears 34 which serve to drive the shaft 36 and the rollers 37. The free ends of the arms 35 carry lobes 39 extending downwardly and connected by pins 40 to couplings 41 on the shafts 42 of jacks 43, the lower ends of which jacks are pivoted by pins 44 to brackets 45 on the carriage 23, The jacks 43 are actuated by shafts 46 rotated by a hand wheel 47 pivoted adjustment of the height of the friction rollers 37.

Similarly forward arms 350 are pivotally mounted coaxially of the shaft 25, the outer ends of the arms 35a having journaled therein a forward driving shaft 31, carrying further friction rollers 32 for supporting the forward part of this roll 6 and driving the same, and having fast thereon gears 33 and 34 which intermesh to impart a drive from the shaft 25 through the shaft 31 to the rollers 32. The arms 35a have lobes 39a similarly operated to the jacks 43, the lower ends of the cylinders of which are pivoted to the brackets 45, and which operate in like manner to the jacks 43, the jacks 43a raising and lowering the arms 35a.

By means of the jacks 43, 43a, the pass between the casting rolls 5,6 can be adjusted, and lower rolls 6 of different diameters eg 6 and 6a, can be employed by adjusting the jacks 43, 43a. For example, in the case of the larger casting roll 611 (shown in chain lines in FIGURE 2) being used, the jacks 43, 43a would be lowered accordingly.

Also, as shown in FIG. 1, further brackets 24 are provided to support uprights 48 and 49 to which are clamped inlet and outlet tubes 50 for cooling fluid such as water, the tubes being connected to coolant fluid ducts 60 provided internally of each lower casting roll 6, the ducts of each roll extending longitudinally of the roll and being interconnected at the other end of the roll.

The upper casting roll is driven through an adjustable coupling 51, appropriate gearing 52 and a coupling 53, from a prime mover 54 in the form of an electric motor supported from the main carriage 9.

Referringto FIGS. 1 and 3 it can be seen that the upper casting roll 5 extends across the width of the spout l and the carriage 9 can be translated right across the front of the tank.

With the upper casting roll 5 in position for casting as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, one lower casting roll 6 (i.e. the right hand roll) is disposed by the carriage 23 in front of the spout and beneath the casting roll 5 as well as above and behind the series of tray roller 7 whereby casting of rolled glass can be effected. Should it be desired to change the roll 6 either to replace a worn roller or to insert a roller having a different pattern for embossing the glass or a roller 6a of larger diameter, the carriage 23 is translated across the spout on the carriage 9, which remains stationary, thereby removing the operative lower casting roll 6 from its casting position, in the drawings to the right of FIGS. 1 and 3, at the same time bringing the other lower casting roll (i.e. the left-hand roll) into the operative position. The right-hand lower casting roll which is then out of operation can be replaced by the same size roller 6 or a larger roller 6a, and if and when desired moved into the casting position by transversing the carriage along the rails 11. lt will thus be seen that by means of the mounting of the invention the shutdown time of the tank for changing over a lower casting roll 6 or 6a is extremely short, for example half a minute, and that no time is lost by the operatives changing over the roll 6 or 6a on the inoperative part of the carriage 23.

Each of the lower casting rolls 6 or 6a and its abovedescribed mounting and drive as well as its cooling and adjustment means is identical except that for the casting roll on the left of FIG. 1, this assembly is to the left of the casting roll and for the right-hand casting roll 6 the assembly is to the right of FIG. 1.

It will be seen by means of the above-described roll mounting, the lower casting rolls 6 are freely supported on the friction rollers 32 and 37 and driven in rotation thereby, while being free of any driving connection to the cooling pipes 50. Each roll 6 in turn can thus quickly be extracted from the mounting unit once the roll has been removed from the casting position. Moreover by the jacks 43, 430, an accurate adjustment of the roll 6 or 6a in its operative position is easily effected. The jacking devices 114 also enable the whole mounting to be raised and lowered, if the lower casting roll 6a or 6 is replaced by an even larger roll, to ensure that this even larger roll is located in the desired operative position beneath the spout.

We claim:

1. A casting roll unit provided for use in producing rolled glass from a flow of glass over the spout of a tank of molten glass, said unit comprising a main carriage mounted for translation across the front end of the tank and having mounted on the forward portion thereof a series of tray rollers in descending order, on the central portion thereofa mounting comprising a casting roll carriage, supporting two lower casting rolls in axial alignment, and on the rearward portion thereof a supporting structure rotatably supporting an upper casting roll, the casting rolls being so disposed that with the upper casting roll and one of the lower casting rolls in register with the tank spout they form between them a pass for rolling glass flowing over the spout and direct a rolled ribbon onto the series of tray rollers, the casting roll carriage being movable across the main carriage to move one lower casting roll out of and to move the other lower casting roll into the casting position.

2. A mounting for two interchangeable lower casting rolls mounted in axial alignment which mounting is provided for use in a casting unit for producing rolled glass from a flow of glass over the spout of a tank of molten glass and which mounting comprises a casting roll carriage mountable for translation across and below the tank spout and, for each casting roll, a separate driven support comprising axially spaced brackets mounted on the roll carriage, a driven shaft journaled in the brackets, spaced arms pivotally mounted coaxially of the driven shaft in which arms a forward driving shaft is journaled, further spaced arms pivotally mounted coaxially of the driving shaft in which further arms a rearward driving shaft is journaled means on the roll carriage for supporting the said spaced arms and the said further spaced arms which support means include adjustable means operable to adjust the relative dispositions of the driving shafts by pivotting the arms associated with one of the driving shafts with respect to the arms associated with the other driving shaft, a driving connection between the driven shaft and each of the driving shafts, and axially spaced friction rollers fast with each driving shaft supporting a lower casting roller and imparting a drive thereto, whereby the driving shafts may be adjusted relatively to each other so that lower casting rolls of different diameter may be drivingly supported and the carriage may be traversed across the tank to move one casting roll into and to withdraw the other casting roll from the casting position.

3. A mounting as claimed in claim 2 in which the said spaced arms for the forward driving shaft and the said further spaced arms for the rearward driving shaft are supported by independently adjustable means operable .to pivot the respective arms about the driven shaft.

4. A mounting as claimed in claim 2 in which each said arm is supported by a manually operable screw jack, the jacks supporting the arms associated with the same driving shaft being coupled together so that these arms are pivoted in unison.

5. A mounting as claimed in claim 2 in which the driving shafts of each lower casting roll are rotatably supported ad jacent the end portions of the roll and the said friction drive rollers are provided at each end portion of the roll.

6. A mounting as claimed in claim 2 in which the driven shaft is coupled through a drive mechanism to a prime mover, e.g. an electric motor, mounted on the casting roll carriage.

7. A casting roll unit as claimed in claim 1 including the mounting as claimed in claim 2.

8. A casting roll unit as claimed in claim 7 in which each of the lower casting rolls is provided with internal coolant fluid ducts connected to inlet and outlet pipes for the fluid, which pipes are provided at the end of the roll remote from the other lower roll and are supported on the casting roll carriage. 

1. A casting roll unit provided for use in producing rolled glass from a flow of glass over the spout of a tank of molten glass, said unit comprising a main carriage mounted for translation across the front end of the tank and having mounted on the forward portion thereof a series of tray rollers in descending order, on the central portion thereof a mounting comprising a casting roll carriage, supporting two lower casting rolls in axial alignment, and on the rearward portion thereof a supporting structure rotatably supporting an upper casting roll, the casting rolls being so disposed that with the upper casting roll and one of the lower casting rolls in register with the tank spout they form between them a pass for rolling glass flowing over the spout and direct a rolled ribbon onto the series of tray rollers, the casting roll carriage being movable across the main carriage to move one lower casting roll out of and to move the other lower casting roll into the casting position.
 2. A mounting for two interchangeable lower casting rolls mounted in axial alignment which mounting is provided for use in a casting unit for producing rolled glass from a flow of glass oveR the spout of a tank of molten glass and which mounting comprises a casting roll carriage mountable for translation across and below the tank spout and, for each casting roll, a separate driven support comprising axially spaced brackets mounted on the roll carriage, a driven shaft journaled in the brackets, spaced arms pivotally mounted coaxially of the driven shaft in which arms a forward driving shaft is journaled, further spaced arms pivotally mounted coaxially of the driving shaft in which further arms a rearward driving shaft is journaled means on the roll carriage for supporting the said spaced arms and the said further spaced arms which support means include adjustable means operable to adjust the relative dispositions of the driving shafts by pivotting the arms associated with one of the driving shafts with respect to the arms associated with the other driving shaft, a driving connection between the driven shaft and each of the driving shafts, and axially spaced friction rollers fast with each driving shaft supporting a lower casting roller and imparting a drive thereto, whereby the driving shafts may be adjusted relatively to each other so that lower casting rolls of different diameter may be drivingly supported and the carriage may be traversed across the tank to move one casting roll into and to withdraw the other casting roll from the casting position.
 3. A mounting as claimed in claim 2 in which the said spaced arms for the forward driving shaft and the said further spaced arms for the rearward driving shaft are supported by independently adjustable means operable to pivot the respective arms about the driven shaft.
 4. A mounting as claimed in claim 2 in which each said arm is supported by a manually operable screw jack, the jacks supporting the arms associated with the same driving shaft being coupled together so that these arms are pivoted in unison.
 5. A mounting as claimed in claim 2 in which the driving shafts of each lower casting roll are rotatably supported adjacent the end portions of the roll and the said friction drive rollers are provided at each end portion of the roll.
 6. A mounting as claimed in claim 2 in which the driven shaft is coupled through a drive mechanism to a prime mover, e.g. an electric motor, mounted on the casting roll carriage.
 7. A casting roll unit as claimed in claim 1 including the mounting as claimed in claim
 2. 8. A casting roll unit as claimed in claim 7 in which each of the lower casting rolls is provided with internal coolant fluid ducts connected to inlet and outlet pipes for the fluid, which pipes are provided at the end of the roll remote from the other lower roll and are supported on the casting roll carriage. 